Asbestos – Description and Diseases

Asbestos is an extremely good insulating material. Because of this, there was widespread use of asbestos-containing products between the 1920s and the mid-1980s. Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. has been a nationwide leader in litigating claims involving the illnesses resulting from asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis

Asbestos fibers are microscopic in size and can easily invade the respiratory system and digestive tract. These tiny fibers become embedded and cannot be removed. Over time, there is a scarring of the surrounding tissue. Scarring of the lungs by asbestos fibers, known as asbestosis, impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange gases. This restricted breathing leads to inadequate oxygen intake to the blood, increased resistance in the airways, and an overall decrease in lung volume. Breathing becomes increasingly difficult over time. Asbestosis is a progressive disease that may not manifest until 10 to 50 years after the actual exposure to asbestos.

The most common form of asbestos-related injury is asbestosis. However, asbestos has been proven to cause numerous types of cancer. The most serious asbestos-related diseases are mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Mesothelioma and lung cancer

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that develops in the protective lining that covers the internal organs. This cancer most commonly occurs in the pleura, which is the outer lining of the lungs, and the pericardium, which is around the heart. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

Lung cancer may also develop as a result of asbestos exposure. Smokers who have had exposure to asbestos are at a greatly increased risk to develop lung cancer.

There are also asbestos-related digestive tract cancers such as laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer.

Get a diagnosis

If you are experiencing problems breathing, or other issues that may be related to any of the diseases previously discussed, then you should see your physician immediately. It is very important that you inform your physician of any prior exposure to asbestos. This is often helpful to the physician in understanding environmental factors that may have contributed to your illness or disease.

Please see our Asbestos Exposure page. Additionally, ELG’s Asbestos / Mesothelioma Resources (link to resources page on 6-page site) provides more detailed information about asbestos diseases.

Seeking justice one client at a time

Environmental Litigation Group, P.C. is a persistent and successful advocate for toxic and environmental exposure victims nationwide. We have particular experience litigating asbestos and other toxic torts in California, New York, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C.

Contact us for a free consultation and to see the difference 20 years of environmental litigation experience can make in your case.

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